We received the very sad news today that Alan's son, Alistair, died this morning. Our hearts go out to his wife, Jenny, Alan and Susan and all his friends and family. We only met Alistair a few times but he was a very special person and touched our lives. Jim wrote this to Alistair a month or so ago.
Dear Alistair,
Janice and I were just fondly reminiscing about our few visits with you, and it occurred to me how important a role people you only meet a few times in a lifetime can play when you are all, what the French call, “sympa”so I thought I should tell you. How many times have we met? Three or four, I think, and yet the memories of those meetings turn up surprisingly often and never fail to give us a smile. Our last visit was when we were staying at Chelsea Cloisters in London, and you agreed to break bread and quaff a pint with us at very pleasant pub in Sloan Square, from which we proceeded on foot together to our temporary local near our hotel. We had a great time until near- closing and had to set off to our hotels—a block or two for us and a considerable distance on foot for you.
And how can I forget the hospitality you and Jenny showed us that night in your charming first home in York? You and your mates invited this cricket-innocent colonial to join them in a game of patio cricket. Not realizing that you were only supposed to block the tennis ball, I lashed out with a roundhouse swing and cracked you on the fingers. To this day you probably have hairline fractures, but rather than calling me a clumsy oaf, you smoothly blew on your smarting fingers and promptly dubbed me, “Smooth hands Jim,” a nickname which I am proud to own, even if it’s only an inside joke.
The other time we met was in your current home in York, bigger, and equally full of human warmth. We dined there, met your friends there, and after a delightful visit, got driven home by Alan and Susan, two of the people who mean the most to us. Character runs in the family.
Alistair, you have enriched our lives and will continue to do so. Thank you.
Love,
Jim
